MAFS Boosts Private Sector
In 2019, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAF) tabled a Cabinet Paper detailing the Enhancing Private Sector Participation in Agriculture Strategy, which is commonly known as the “MAFS Policy Shift”.
The main components of the strategy include: an agricultural mechanization service scheme managed by the private sector; an e-voucher scheme to improve targeting and enhance efficiency in the delivery of public subsidy programmes for agricultural inputs; training of agro-input dealers and farmers; an e- extension service; setting up an agricultural credit facility; and (vi) an agricultural investment bank.
A central pillar of the “MAFS Policy Shift” was to expand the provision of mechanized land preparation and planting services. To start this effort, the Government of Sierra Leone made 410 machines worth SLL168 billion (USD 13 million) available to the private sector in 2019 through a competitive bidding process for a lease-to-own public-private partnership arrangement. This action was to address previously failed agricultural mechanization approaches that relied heavily on the government directly providing tractors and equipment to farmer groups, or private individuals. The scheme is complemented by the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Act which established the Sierra Leone Seed Certification Agency and the National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency Act, which regulates the fertilizer trade, distribution and use in Sierra Leone.
Despite some challenges during the first year relating to the machines and equipment, the scheme has contributed to an increase in the land area under cultivation – in the first year to 15,600 ha – the highest in the past 20 years. It has also served as a proof of concept and has established a public-private partnership pathway for providing agricultural mechanization services, fertilizers and seeds in a more efficient and transparent manner.
As part of the national effort to improve soil health and contribute to food security improvement, poverty reduction and minimization of environmental degradation, the Government of Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has concluded a National Comprehensive Soil Survey. The survey provides updated data and information on the soils in different agro-climatic and agro-ecological zones, land use patterns, soil fertility and determination of land sustainability for cropping in Sierra Leone. It is expected that the data and information provided by the survey will help guide sustainable soil management, including the management of soil acidity and soil fertility by small-scale farmers. It will also help to promote the judicious use and management of fertilizers and for sustainable crop production in the country.
In an economy where agriculture is mainly rain-fed, rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather events are reducing the viability of agriculture-based livelihoods and putting a significant share of the population at risk of increased hunger, malnutrition and poverty. With less than 45% of the population having access to electricity, an electrification rate across the country is critical for economic growth, rural development and the delivery of critical social services across the country.
